Our Scientific Skill to Create Five Vaccines
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Dr. C. Marta Ayala Ávila, general director at the Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (CIGB), in her intervention in the recent television show Mesa Redonda, recalled how Abdala was the first vaccine in Latin America to obtain authorization for use in emergency. "It was the first of the five Cuban vaccine candidates to obtain authorization from the regulatory agency."
“Many people wondered why five vaccines and we thought that, if we have the scientific capacity, the human resources, and the mastery of technology, on top of an experience of more than 30 years, why not do it. We were not going back, but rather move forward hurriedly”, asserted the highest authority at the CIGB.
She spoke the massive use of Abdala with the intervention study carried out with BioCubaFarma's medical staff plus the health staff, then in the health intervention, and later in the massive vaccination starting on July 9th. Although it’s worth remembering that risk groups like nephropathic patients, pregnant women, and nursing mothers were also immunized.
“The results of the vaccine and the approvals it has met have made it possible to reach more vulnerable groups. In the last month we started the clinical trials in pediatrics, Ismaelillo, which is taking place in the city of Camagüey, in addition to a new study being presented to Cecmed, the Cuban regulatory entity, which we have called Meñique”.
Abdala is currently distributed throughout the country, provincial head cities and municipalities such as: Havana, Santiago de Cuba, Matanzas, Isla de la Juventud, Cienfuegos, Villa Clara, the head cities of Granma and Pinar del Río. "The national territory has been gradually covered, as we have distributed more doses of vaccines."
Ayala Ávila was specific on the strategy for the development of Cuban vaccine candidates that “around 13 million doses have been administered, which represents that more than five million people have been vaccinated at least once, and four and a half million have received the second doses, and more than three and a half million the third dose of Abdala”.
Protect all Toddlers
Regarding pediatric trials, the head of the CIGB indicated that “the immune response of children should almost always be higher and more homogeneous than when it comes to the adult population, which is very large, aged 19 and above. After the completion of these first studies, the institution may request the extension of authorization for emergency use that Abdala already has.
“Vaccination of the pediatric group is essential since as time passes, more adults will be vaccinated, and it’s very likely, and there are already some indications that the greatest number of infected appears in these unvaccinated populations. In addition, we’d like to vaccinate our children so that they can go to schools and parks”, added Ayala Ávila.
Mambisa: Some vaccines are administered nasally in the world
The doctor stressed that Mambisa is one of the 7 vaccine candidates worldwide that are administrated through the nose. Intranasal immunization can provide a barrier to infection, prevent virus replication, and decrease viral spreading. Mambisa, alone or in combination, "can provide immunity in the channel through which the virus enters."
In her intervention, she stated: “We’ve been discussing the possibility, given the spreading of amore contagious and new variant, that it may be interesting to apply this kind of vaccination procedure. All the tools are valid when it comes to dropping the high incidence we are facing. It can be a reinforcement, in fact, it has been used in convalescent patients with that goal”.
Translated by Amilkal Labañino / CubaSí Translation Staff
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